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Chapter 1  
     
1.
 When in the height heaven was not named,  
2.
 And the earth beneath did not yet bear a name,  
3.
 And the primeval Apsû, who begat them,  
4.
 And chaos, Tiamat, the mother of them both,--  
5.
 Their waters were mingled together,  
6.
 And no field was formed, no marsh was to be seen;  
7.
 When of the gods none had been called into being,  
8.
 And none bore a name, and no destinies [were ordained];  
9.
 Then were created the gods in the midst of [heaven],  
10.
 Lahmu and Lahamu were called into being [...].  
11.
 Ages increased, [...],  
12.
 Then Anshar and Kishar were created, and over them [...].  
13.
 Long were the days, then there came forth [...]  
14.
 Anu, their son, [...]  
15.
 Anshar and Anu [...]  
16.
 And the god Anu [...]  
17.
 Nudimmud, whom his fathers [his] begetters [...]  
18.
 Abounding in all wisdom, [...]  
19.
 He was exceeding strong [...]  
20.
 He had no rival [...]  
21.
 (Thus) were established and [were ... the great gods  
22.
 But T[iamat and Âpsû] were (still) in confusion [...],  
23.
 They were troubled and [...]  
24.
 In disorder(?) ... [...]  
25.
 And Tiamat roared [...]  
26.
 Apsû was not diminished in might [...]  
27.
 She smote, and their deeds [...]  
28.
 Their way was evil ... [...] ...  
29.
 Then Apsû, the begetter of the great gods,  
30.
 Cried unto Mummu, his minister, and said unto him:  
31.
 "O Mummu, thou minister that rejoicest my spirit,  
32.
 "Come, unto Tiamat let us [go]!"  
33.
 So they went and before Tiamat they lay down,  
34.
 They consulted on a plan with regard to the gods [their sons].  
35.
 Apsû opened his mouth [and spake],  
36.
 And unto Tiamat, the glistening one, he addressed [the word]:  
37.
 "[...] their way [...],  
38.
 "By day I cannot rest, by night [I cannot lie down (in peace)].  
39.
 "But I will destroy their way, I will [...],  
40.
 "Let there be lamentation, and let us lie down (again in peace)."  
41.
 When Tiamat [heard] these words,  
42.
 She raged and cried aloud [...].  
43.
 [She ...] grievously [...],  
44.
 She uttered a curse, and unto [Apsû she spake]:  
45.
 "What then shall we [do]?  
46.
 "Let their way be made difficult, and let us [lie down (again) in peace]."  
47.
 Mummu answered, and gave counsel unto Apsû,  
48.
 [...] and hostile (to the gods) was the counsel Mu[mmu gave]:  
49.
 "Come, their way is strong, but thou shalt destroy [it];  
50.
 "Then by day shalt thou have rest, by night shalt thou lie down (in peace)."  
51.
 Apsû [hearkened unto] him and his countenance grew bright,  
52.
 [Since] he (i.e. Mummu) planned evil against the gods his sons.  
53.
 [...] he was afraid [...],  
54.
 His knees [became weak(?)], they gave way beneath him,  
55.
 [Because of the evil] which their first-born had planned.  
56.
 [...] their [...] they altered(?).  
57.
 Lamentation [...] they sat in [sorrow] '  
58.
 [...] they [...],  
59.
 [...]  
60.
 Then Ea, who knoweth all that [is], went up and he beheld their muttering.  
61.
 [...]  
62.
 [...] ... his pure incantation  
63.
 [...] ... [...]  
64.
 [...]  
65.
 [...] misery  
66.
 [...]  
67.
 [...]  
68.
 [...]  
69.
 [...]  
70.
 [...]  
71.
 [...]  
72.
 [...]  
73.
 [...]  
74.
 [...]  
75.
 [...]  
76.
 [...]  
77.
 [...]  
78.
 [...]  
79.
 [...]  
80.
 [...]  
81.
 [...]  
82.
 [...]  
83.
 [...]  
84.
 [...]  
85.
 [...] the god Anu,  
86.
 [... an aven]ger.  
87.
 [...]  
88.
 [...] and he shall confound Tiamat.  
89.
 [...] he ...  
90.
 [...] for ever.  
91.
 [...] the evil,  
92.
 [...] ... he spake:  
93.
 "[...] thy [...] he hath conquered and  
94.
 [...] he [weepeth] and sitteth in tribulation(?).  
95.
 "[...] of fear,  
96.
 "[...] we shall not lie down (in peace).  
97.
 "[...] Apsû is laid waste(?),  
98.
 "[...] and Mummu, who were taken captive, in [...]  
99.
 "[...] thou didst, ...  
100.
 "[...] let us lie down (in peace).  
101.
 "[...] ... they will smite (?) [...].  
102.
 " [...] let us lie down (in peace).  
103.
 "[...] thou shalt take vengeance for them,  
104.
 "[...]unto the tempest shalt thou [...]!"  
105.
 [And Tiamat hearkened unto] the word of the bright god, (and said):  
106.
 "[...] shalt thou entrust! let us wage [war]!"  
107.
 [...] the gods in the midst of [...]  
108.
 [...] for the gods did she create.'  
109.
 [They banded themselves together and] at the side of Tiamat [they] advanced;  
110.
 [They were furious, they devised mischief without resting] night and [day].  
111.
 [They prepared for battle], fuming and raging;  
112.
 [They joined their forces] and made war.  
113.
 [Ummu-Hubu]r, who formed all things,  
114.
 [Made in addition] weapons invincible, she spawned monster-serpents,  
115.
 [Sharp of] tooth, and merciless of fang;  
116.
 [With poison instead of] blood she filled [their] bodies.  
117.
 Fierce [monster-vipers] she clothed with terror,  
118.
 [With splendour] she decked them, [she made them] of lofty stature.  
119.
 [Whoever beheld] them, terror overcame him,  
120.

Their bodies reared up and none could withstand [their attack].

  
121.
 [She set] up vipers, and dragons, and the (monster) [Lahamu],  
122.
 [And hurricanes], and raging hounds, and scorpion-men,  
123.
 And mighty [tempests], and fish-men, and[rams];  
124.
 [They bore] cruel weapons, without fear of [the fight].  
125.
 Her commands [were mighty], [none] could resist them;  
126.
 After this fashion, huge of stature, [she made] eleven (monsters).  
127.
 Among the gods who were her sons, inasmuch as he had given [her support],  
128.
 She exalted Kingu; in their midst [she raised] him [to power].  
129.
 To march before the forces, to lead [the host],  
130.
 To give the battle-signal, to advance to the attack,  
131.
 To direct the battle, to control the fight,  
132.
 Unto him she entrusted; in [costly raiment] she made him sit, (saying):  
133.
 "I have uttered thy spell, in the assembly of the gods I have raised thee to power.  
134.
 "The dominion over all the gods [have I entrusted unto him].  
135.
 "Be thou exalted, thou my chosen spouse,  
136.
 "May they magnify thy name over all [of them ... the Anunnaki]."  
137.
 She gave him the Tablets of Destiny, on [his] breast she laid them, (saying):  
138.
 "Thy command shall not be without avail, and[the word of thy mouth shall be established]."  
139.
 Now Kingu, (thus) exalted, having received [the power of Anu],  
140.
 [Decreed] the fate among the gods his sons, (saying):  
141.
 "Let the opening of your mouth [quench] the Fire-god;  
142.
 "Whoso is exalted in the battle, let him [display (his) might]!"  

 
 
 

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